Dispenser



M. E. RlcKE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 2, 1954 March 25, 1958 INVENTOR I MAUR/,NE E /P/c/(E ATTORNEYS 2,828,005' DISPENSER `Maurine E. Rieke, Danville, Calif.

Appiication November 2, 1954, Serial No. 466,283 3 claims. (ci. 20e- 42) The present invention relates to an improved dispenser wherein the items dispensed are counted so that an accurate count thereof is at all times available.

The dispenser of the present invention is portable and quite compact and lightweight so as to be readily carried about by one dispensing items therefrom. Although various different items may be disposed within and dispensed by the device of the present invention, particular utility is found in the dispensing of drugs or other medicaments as in the form of pills or capsules wherein it is very important to keep an accurate count of the number of items dispensed. In the provision of capsular medicines to patients it is necessary to insure correctness not only in the overall number administered but also `in the dispensing of each individual item. For example, a nurse administering capsules even to an individual patient can forget the exact number already given or may have diculty in remembering whether a particular required capsule has been given, inasmuch as nurses have a large number of patients `and may need to provide like medicines of the same or differing quantity to each.

The dispenser of the present invention is adapted to contain a multiplicity of individual items separate from each other and to be operable for dispensing same individually in succession while indicating visually the number dispensed. The device cannot be actuated except in the forward direction to make available or dispense additional items and thus no possibility of faulty indication is present. Also the invention is quite simple and inexpensive as it includes but a minimum of parts and is thus inexpensive and easily manufactured and maintained.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable dispenser.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable dispenser visually indicating at all times the number of items dispensed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portable dispenser having an apertured plate rotatable between successive aligned positions with separate compartments and having visual indicia of the number of aligned positions previously encountered.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, t-hat variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: p'

Figure l is a plan View of one preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view ofthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view `taken on a diameter of the device as indicated at 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken as indicated at 4-4 of Figure 3 and illustrating the ratchet mechanism. Y

Figure 5 is a partial plan view showing the invention in a displaced dispensing position.

Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a central sectional view taken on a diameter of the invention as indicated at 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view taken at 8-8 of Figure 7 and showing the ratchet mechanismof the embodiment of Figure 6.

Considering rst the structural details of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1-5, and referring to these illustrations in the drawings, there will be seen to be provided a generally cylindrical relatively thin carrier member 11. The carrier member has a central axial aperture 12 piercing the same, and there are additionally provided in the carrier 11 a plurality of cylindrical bores 13 spaced evenly thereabout and having their centers disposed, for` example, along the circumferences of two circles of different diameters. The bores 13 have their centers displaced equally apart about the circumference of the carrier 11. A bottom plate 14 is disposed on the bottom of the carrier 11 and is coextensive therewith. This plate 14 has a central aperture mating with the aperture 12 in the carrier member and is secured to the carrier member in closing relation to the carrier bores 13 which then become cavities 13 with the'upper ends only open.

Atop the carrier 11 is a dispenser plate member 16 which has attached thereto or formed integral therewith a central depending shaft 17 of such a diameter as to slidably engage the central aperture 12 in the carrier 11. The dispenser plate 16 is provided with a single transverse aperture 18 which pierces the plate' parallel to the shaft 17 and which extends radially of the dispenser plate substantially from the shaft edge to the outer circumference of the plate. This dispenser aperture has a width equal to the diameter of the carrier cavities 13 so that upon rotation of the dispenser plate upon the carrier, the carrier cavities are successively opened at their tops while all other cavities are closed by the dispenser plate.

There are provided interengaging spring snap means for maintaining the dispenser plate 16 in closing relationship to the top of the carrier 11. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 5 this connector or retaining means comprises a spring loaded slug 19 disposed in a radial aperture in the carrier 11 closed by a threaded plug 26 with the slug engaging at an inner curved end thereof a circumferential curved slot 21` about the shaft 17. This retaining means maintains the cover or dispensing plate 16 in position atop the carrier 11 while allowing relative rotation of these elements and yet permits disconnection of the dispenser plate and shaft from the carrier by depression of the spring that forces the slug 19 radially inward into the shaft slot 21. Various means are suitable to prevent undue movement of the retaining means slug 19 upon removal of the shaft from the carrier, as for example the provision of a shoulder about the radial carrier aperture so that the slug 19 can move only a limited distance into the axialcarrier aperture when the shaft is removed therefrom, as shown.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision of ratchet means limiting relative rotation of the carrier and dispensing plate to a single direction and providing arelative position of stability at each position of align- 3 ment of dispenser aperture These means Vinclude a vertical barV or pawl 22 having a small chisel-shaped upper end and disposed within a vertical aperture in the carrier 11 having a reduced opening at the top through which the chisel endot the pawl protrudes. Below the paw] 22 is a spring 23' supported by a plug 24 threaded into the carrier at thebottom of; the;` aperturetherein so that .the pawl is-sprin'g" loaded to remain normally protruding from the carrier topY surface, andV is. depressible therefrom against the spring pressure. Square or rectangularrratchet indentations 26 are formed on the under surface of the dispenser plate 16 about a circle having a diameter equal to the radial displacement of the ratchet aperture in the carri'erll The ratchet indentaticns in the. dispenser or cover plate'l are spaced `apart and oriented. 4with respect to the pawl 22 and .dispenser aperture 18 so that one; indentation is engaged by the paw-t eachv time the dis. 112.13561: aperture; 1S is aligned. with a 'carrierV cavity 13. 'I he ratchet indentations-.zZti are V-shaped in radial .sec-

tion with one sideY of the V' vertical and the chisel endv ofY the pawl 22 isA likewise formed and. disposed, as best seen in Figure 4 so. that. rotation of the. dispenser plate is po`ssible Aonlyy ill; a single forward direction and reverse rotation thereof is: prevented .by engagement ot" vertical Surfaces Qthe pal-.WL and. matingxindentations. Y

It will be. noted: that both-.the hereinbefore described ratchet means and the. means removablyA connecting the dispenser plate member with the: carrier member,V are advantageously located wholly within. the contines of tbecarrier member and dispenser' plate-.memben One further feature completes the device and this is a` series of numbers 3,0I scribed or otherwisemarked upon the carrier l1. about the-circumference thereof. In this respect note. that the carrier cavities. 13Y areY Vdisposed' entirely about the carrier except tor I1.e:1w.rtioi1A whichis left blank without cavities as a starting point or zero setting `of the dispenser plate whereatrnocavitiesc are opened when. thedispenser aperture is there disposed.. Considering the instance where the device is'adapted; toindicate the, number. of items remaining` in the carrierV cavities and-sometwenty-vecavities are disposedl about the carrier, the number 2 5 is scribed' radially outward from -the blankV portion off the carrier and amark 27 upon-Y the dispenser plate extends from thedispenserapen-` ture radially outward therefrom` to the dispenser periph-- ery. Initial positioning of the mark27 in. alignment with the numeral 25; indicates. that no cavities are opened so, that: twenty-tive remain; full.. Rotation-'of the; dispenser plate to align the dispenser aperture 1S;V with the first cavity 13 adjacent the blankcarrierspace also aligns the dispensermark' 27 with the carrier numeral 2415"V thereby indicating that some twenty-fouravities tema-ini unopened.V V-

With regard to the operation of the dispenser ofthe present invention sameis first to be filled.- with items. to be dispensed suchv as capsules 2S. Rapid filling', of the carrier. cavities is; facilitatedby removal of the covering; dispenser plate from-the carrier andthis may be accomplised by thumb pressure. applied upwardly to the bottom. of. the shaft 17 through thebottom of thev central carrier aperture 12 to overcome, the.I force of thedetentspring, The shaft and attached dispenserplate-.i are raisedfrom the carrier. and capsules 28,- for. example-are insertedin each carrier cavity 13. The dispenser plate; 16 isthen. replaced with the.. mark 27 thereon aligned with. thenurnbcr;-25 sothat the dispenser aperture f7.8 lies4 abovethe;b lank carrier space out'of alignment with, any and allcarrier. cavities. With the; devicefthus iilled itis ready for useand eachsuccessive capsule Z- desired to, be.- removed therefrom is readily available; by. rotatingV the dispenser plate 16. one notchof theratchet-v to: alignfthe dispenser aperture; 18.. with= the. next. adjacent cavity 13 containing; a. capsule... The/mark 2,7 is, at.. all. times.; aligned witha` numberouille-carrier. periphery indican 1s Vand carrier cavity 13.

Y ing the number of cavities Vcluding the one then presently open. The dispenser plate that have been opened, in-

16 is retained from Vreverse rotation so that no error in the above indication is possible. if desired the dispenser plate and/or carrier and other portions of the device may be `formed of a transparent plastic for convenience and inexpensiveness of construction as well as to alford a view of the dispenser contents.

An alternative lembodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8 is generally the same as the abovedescribed embodiment and like parts are similarly num- Y bered. In this embodiment Ythe'same carrier 11, bottom plate 14 andY dispenserV plate 16 are provided, however, instead of a circumferential shaft slot 21 there is formed about the shaft circumference within the central carrier aperture a succession of adjacentrnotches .31 with each having one side disposed radially of the shaft 17 and the otherside at an angle thereto, as shown in Figure 8. The slug 19'-of Figure 3 is-- replaced by abar'3'2 having a small chisel-shaped end in planv View and adapted to t into the sha-ft notches 31 with the bar 32" being spring loaded, as shown,` tot force'same radially inward of the carrier into enga-gement withthe shaft notches. VA plug 33 is threaded into aradial carrier aperture wherein the bar. 32. is disposed to retain the Vspring therein behind the barV and this plug V3:3' mayv be threaded into and out of the carrier toadjust' thel spring pressure and to entirely release: same; The ratchet means of the embodiment of Fig-ure 3 may bei replaced with a spring loadedround-V n'osed; member' 34- extending th-rough the top of the carrier and engaging-thedispenser plate in an annular groove or ae succession' of dished depressions 36 in the under SurfaceV of the. dispenser plate. Otherwise the' two embodiments. herein illustrated are alike, asis the-operation, so4v that Vno further' description thereof is required.-

What is; claimedi is:

l.. A. device forfsin'gly dispensing pills, capsules or the like, comprising a generally cylindrical relatively thinV which saidcav-ities: extend, in closing relation therewithV for. rotary-v adjustmentmelativethereto, vsaidV dispenser plate membershavingiailaterally projecting` partr extending centrally thereof from the; inner-J' side face ofthe same inV line with said axial opening in the carrier member; said dispensen plate member" havingi a single. aperture therein for register successively withJsaid1 carrier. member cavities, and the: carrier member .cavities beingv so spaced thereabout that-1 there: is.- a. blank varea .between certain or" the cavities with which the aperture ini. the dispenser plate member. in-one positionv thereof is adaptedto register so thatlin thatl position of. th'eV dispenserV plate member it` closes alLof; sa-id cavitiesmeansrotatably but removably connecting; thedispenser plateV member with: the carrier member, said means; including interengaging springsnap meansbetween. they dispenser plate member and' Vcarrier member, and ratchetV means-comprising: cooperating .parts on said-.carrier member and dispenser plate member forr limitingjrotarymovement of the dispenser plate member relative.tothe carrier member to'one direction only, step by, step', and'saidratchet means. being,l so correlated with the spacing of. the carrier memberr cavities thereabout whereby at. eachmatchet'controlled step Yadjustment of the dispenser plate member from the position.; at which itsaperture registers with said blanlc area ofi the' carrier member, the aperture of the dispenser plate member will register ,with-.oneroi the carrier` cavities, saidV connector means and ratchet-means being located whollyl within theconnes of. the; carrier?member. and dispenser.- plate member.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said laterally projecting part is inthe form of a shaft fitted for rotation in said central axial opening, and said means removably connecting the dispenser plate with the carrier member embodies a radial bore in said carrier member opening into said axial opening, a member reciprocably supported in the inner end of said bore and constantly urged inwardly and having a detent portion extendable into the axial opening, and means substantially encircling the shaft in line with said bore for receiving said extendable portion of the reciprocable member.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said ratchet means embodies a bore in the carrier member paralleling said axial opening and having an inner end opening through the said one side face of the carrier member, a spring loaded member reciprocably supported in the inner end of said bore and having a detent portion extendablefrom the bore against the adjacent side of the dispenser plate, and an annular series of indentations in the said adjacent side of the dispenser plate concentric with said axial bore for receiving said detent 5 portion of the spring loaded member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 173,543 Howe Feb. 15, 1876 1,060,979 Hamilton May 6, 1913 1,127,574 Anderson Feb. 9, 1915 1,737,643 Conner Dec. 3, 1929 2,176,232 Warren Oct. 17, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 712,676 France of 1931 936,402 France of 1948 

